Next Article in Journal
PVConv: Enhancing Depthwise Separable Convolution via Preference-Value Learning for Similar-Feature Discrimination
Previous Article in Journal
Enabling Fast Frequency Response with Adaptive Demand-Side Resource Control: Strategy and Field-Testing Validation
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Secure LoRa-Based Transmission System: An IoT Solution for Smart Homes and Industries

Institute of Communication and Computer Networks, Faculty of Computing and Telecommunications, Poznan University of Technology, ul. Polanka 3, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Electronics 2025, 14(24), 4977; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14244977
Submission received: 30 October 2025 / Revised: 9 December 2025 / Accepted: 17 December 2025 / Published: 18 December 2025

Abstract

This article addresses the lack of low-cost, secure image-transmission solutions for IoT systems in remote environments. The design and implementation of a complete LoRa-based transmission system using ESP32 microcontrollers and Ebyte E220 modules, featuring AES-CBC encryption, HMAC integrity protection, and a custom retransmission protocol, are presented. The system achieves 100% packet delivery ratio (PDR) for 20 kB images over distances exceeding 2 km under line-of-sight conditions, with functional transmission up to 4.1 km. Image transmission time ranges from 35 s (0.1 m) to 110 s (600 m), while energy consumption increases from 4.95 mWh to 15.18 mWh. Critically, encryption imposes less than 1% overhead on total energy consumption. Unlike prior work focusing on isolated components, this article provides a complete, deployable architecture combining (i) low-cost hardware (<USD 50 total), (ii) long-range LoRa communication, (iii) custom reliability mechanisms for fragmenting 20 kB images into 100 packets, and (iv) end-to-end cryptographic protection, all evaluated experimentally across multi-kilometer distances. These findings demonstrate that secure long-range image transmission using commodity hardware is feasible and scalable for smart home and industrial monitoring applications.
Keywords: encryption; Internet of Things; LoRa; microcontroller; security encryption; Internet of Things; LoRa; microcontroller; security

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ryczek, S.; Sobieraj, M. Secure LoRa-Based Transmission System: An IoT Solution for Smart Homes and Industries. Electronics 2025, 14, 4977. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14244977

AMA Style

Ryczek S, Sobieraj M. Secure LoRa-Based Transmission System: An IoT Solution for Smart Homes and Industries. Electronics. 2025; 14(24):4977. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14244977

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ryczek, Sebastian, and Maciej Sobieraj. 2025. "Secure LoRa-Based Transmission System: An IoT Solution for Smart Homes and Industries" Electronics 14, no. 24: 4977. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14244977

APA Style

Ryczek, S., & Sobieraj, M. (2025). Secure LoRa-Based Transmission System: An IoT Solution for Smart Homes and Industries. Electronics, 14(24), 4977. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14244977

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop